Dishwashing machine



Ngv. 5, 1946. A, OEB Re 22,809

DISHWASHING MACHINE I Original Filed June 4, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 5, 1946. l.. A. LoEB nIsHwAsHING MACHINE '7 sheets-sheet 2 Original Filed June 4, 1941 Nov. 5,'1946. i L. A; Loge, Re 22,809

y DISHWASHING MACHINE Original Filed June 4, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet I5 Nov. s, y194e.

L. A. LOEB DISHWASHING MACHINE original Filed June 4, 1.941 '7 sheets-sheet 4 A @ya Nav. 5, 19,46. A. LoEB DISHWASHING MACHINE original Filed June 4, y1941 Nav. 5, 1946. L. A. LOEB Re 22,809

- DISHWA-SHING MACHINE Origin'al Filed June 4, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 .Reiued Nov. 5, 1946 nrsnwasnmc MACHINE Lawrence A. Loeb, New Haven, Conn.

Original No. 2,342,742, dated February 29, 1944, Serial No. 396,534, June 4, 1941. Application for reissue April 17, 1944, Serial No. 531,361

- 13 Claims.

This invention relates to dishwashing machines, and while shown in connection with a device of this kind such as illustrated in my prior application, Serial No. 367,020, led November 25, 1940, which has matured into Patent No. 2,395,747, granted Feb. 26,1946, it will be understoodethat the improvements are applicable to dishwashing machines in general. Y

As illustrated herein, the device is designed for use particularly as a household dishwashing machine adapted 'tobe supported from the oor. Machines of this character have in the past been oi relatively expensive construction, and the expense has been a factor in restricting their dis--V tribution. Moreover, the present machines have some disadvantages in that it is necessary to reach tothe lower part of the tub or container to nil the dish rack with the soiled dishes to be cleaned, and as the dishes must usually be placed in this rack singly so that they are held in spaced relation for etlective cleaning, the operation is somewhat tedious.

, One object of the present invention ls to pro-v vide a dishwashing machine with a dish-supporting rack which may be.,elevated from its normal position at the lower part of the tub or tank to an upper position where it may be loaded.

Another object of the invention is the provision y of a dish-supporting rack which may be elevated and lowered in the tub by mechanical means such as an electric motor, and in the present instance use is made of the operating motor for this purpose.

To these and other'- ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a iront elevational view of a dishwashf ing machine embodying my improvements; 1

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same partly broken away lor the sake of clearness;

- y Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Flg. 2; Fig. 4 is a,v sectional view on line 4-4 oi Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the cover construction adjacent the handle;

Fig. Iiy is a sectional view on line 2 Fig. l1 is a' view showing the control member for the motor, water supply, and drain;

Fig. 12 is a plan view oi a corner portion of the lower dish rack; 1

Fig. 13 18,8. partial SeCtiOnal View 0n line |3|3 ,0f Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the lower portion of a machine ci' modified construction;

Fig. 15 is'a sectional view on line i5--I5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a, sectional View similar `to Fig. 3 showing a further modification;

AFig. 17 is a detail view of the upper dish rack of a further modiiled form;

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of the lower dish rack;

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of one of the upper dish racks; l

Fig. 20 is a top plan view oi' my dishwashing machine installed ilush with acounter or drain board in the manner of the ordinary sink;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view of the device shown 1n Fig. 2o;

. I hav'e shown a dishwashing machine comprising a tub or tank III supported upon legs or standards I I, four ofk which are provided, one at each corner of the tank. At its lower portion the walls of the tank converge inwardly, as shown at I2, to the lower portion or bottom I3. It will be understood that the tank, which is thus rmly supported upon the legs II, will 'be enclosed in an outer Fig. '1 is a sectional view on une 1-'1 of Fig. 3 Y

showing the hinge construction of the cover;

Fig. 8 is a planvview oi the supporting member or grid upon which the dish rack rests:

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view on line l-l A ofFIg.8; v

rxr'. 1o is s detail view snowing the waiter-level indicating means:

decorative case. the sides of which are indicated at I4 and I5 (Fig. 3) IB (F18. 4). v

The sides oi'the outer case may be placed in position and held in place by .-means 'oi a top member Il (Fig. 2) which is provided with downwardly projecting ilanges Il to overlap the upper edgesoi the parts oi the casing and hold the latter in podtion. As shown in Fig. v2, the top member I1 is provided with a rectangular opening Aand the i'rnt indicated at to receive the cover, as will be described hereinafter. p v

Telescoped overfthe upper edges of the contain- 3 er i9 and lying below the member l1`is a sheet metal member I9 ot rectangular form, this member being provided with an inwardly extending flange 29 and an outwardlyextending flange 2|, which flanges will serve to direct the water downwardly which has been thrown up by the rotor and which, as is hereinafter described, will make a tight t with the cover so that the water kwill not-be thrown from the machine. Openings 26' allowfthe escape of steam from the tub around the cover.` 1

Within the opening of the top member I1 is a cover construction which will now be described.

'I'he cover is made in two parts, one of which-comprises a pair of flanged or angle members 22 and 23. of rectangular form, between which members is clamped a piece of glass or other transparent material24. Packing material oi' rubber or the like, as. shown at'25 or 26, may be placed between the flange members and the glass, so as to secure the latter .in place and also make a tight seal. Also between the depending portions of the angle members is a gasket 21 of sponge rubber or the like whichextends entirely around the four sides of the cover and, as shown in Fig. 3, ts tightly against the flange so as to make a water-tight joint. A rod 2a extends through openings in the member I9 and also through openings in thev angle member 23 to hinge this cover to the mem- 'ber I9, so that the cover may be opened and closed. `Above the cover lust described is a second opaque cover which is provided with downwardly depending anges 3l upon both sides and the front, this flange being omitted, however,

-A at theback, as shown in Fig. '1. The side flanges of this second cover are also perforated to receive the rod 28 so that this cover will likewise be hinged upon this` rod. The outside cover 39 is providedlwith a rotatable handle 32, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Upon the lower end of the shank of this handle is provided a wing or cam i 33,which is adapted to enter through a slot 34 sacco y at the right-hand side of this tllre. These racks comprise lower grid members 49 from which project upwardly' U-shaped bars or rods 4|, the latter being in spaced relation so that relatively small dishes such as saucers and the like may l be supported therebetween. The inner of the two sections of each of these racks vis provided with a U-shaped member 4I"L ofless height than the member 4I. As-shown in Fig.,3, for example, a glass 42 may rest flatly upon the bottom of the rack, while a cup, as shown at 43, is supported in an inclined position, as the edge oi' the cup rests upon the upper surface of the member 4I.

Adjacent' the lower part of the tub yis a flanged member 45 of rectangular shape secured to the tub walls so as to form a support for a supporting grid for the lower 'dish rack, this grid being shown inv Fig. ,8 and designated generally by the numeral 45. This grid comprises four arms 41 which extend diagonally from the center of thetub toward the four corners, at which the arms are provided with upwardly extending ends 46 which serve toguide the grid in its movements up- -wardly and, downwardly infthe tub, as ywill be hereinafter explained. The inner ends o! the arms 41 are secured. as by welding or the like,`

to a sleeve 49 provided with clutch teeth 59. at 'its lower end, the lower end also being beveled or-tapered outwardly so as to be generally of frusta-conical shape. Also secured to the sleeve 49 is a tubular shield 5| which extends upwardly from the sleeve to a point adjacent the upper dish rack, as shown in Fig. 3.

36l Resting uponthe grid 46 is a lower dish rack which4 comprises a grid or wire network 52 w which are secured upstanding dish-supporting members 53, as shown more especially in Fig. 3, the latter members being secured at their lower 4l ends to spaced circular rods 54, which are in turn of keyhole shape in the horizontal portion of the flange member 23 of the lower cover. From Figs.- 5 and 6 it will be noted that when the handle 32 is in the` position shown the member 33 will secure the two covers together so that both may besimultaneously lifted or swung about their hinges by an upward pull upon the handle. When, however, the handle 32 is turned through an angle of 90 the member 33 will no longer engage the ange 23, but will pass through the slot 3,4 and will, therefore, permit the'raising' of the upper opaque cover 3l while leavingfthe transparent cover in closed position. Anyone operating the machine and desiring to view its action may, by releasing the lower cover, raise the upper one and may view the action of the machine through the transparent member 24. Normally. the handle32wi1l be left in the position shown in Fig. 5, so that the two covers will be raised and lowered' together, as is, of course, desirable when loading .or unloading the machine.

Upon the front and rear walls of the tub are l provided flange members 35 of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, these members having upper surfaces 36 designed tosupport the front and rear ends of the upper dish racks, designated generally by the numeral 31. Thesedish racks, as shown, are-made in two` sections, hinged together by the links 39 and pivotedv to the members 35 at 39, so they may be folded downwardly upon the surfaces 36 in operative position, as shown at the left side of Fig. v3, or folded upwardly in an out-of-the-way position, as shown secured to the grid 52. It will be apparent that the ends of the members 41 are supported upon the ledges or flanges 45 at their outer ends only, and these members are resilient so that the inner portions thereof about the sleeve 49 may be sprung `downwardly to some extent for a purpose to be explained hereinafter. The tubular member 5| is closed at the top by a cap 55, as shown in Fig. 4.- l

It will be apparent that as the lower dish rack is supported upon the grid 46, whichl is in turn -supported freely upon the ledge 45,-the raising of this grid will effect the -raising of the lower dish rack, which raising motion is accomplished by the mechanism which will now be described. i Supportedvbelow the tub LI6 in any suitable manner is a `reversible motor 56, the shaft or shaft extension 51 of which extends upwardly through the bottom I3 of the tub and is threaded, as

shown at 55, the shaft extending through the sleeve 49 and to a point adjacent the upper end of the tube 5I. Upon this shaft is secured the agitator 59 which will serve to agitate the water in the tube to cleanse the dishes.

Above the agitator 59 a compression spring 60 loosely surrounds the shaft, the spring being n nut will travel longitudinally of the shaft. The

upper surface of the nut is tapered so as to .be of Atruste-conical shape complementary to the lower end of the sleeve 49, and is provided' with compleinentary teeth 62 to engage those at the lower lthe threaded portion 58 of the shaft 51.

' eases pressure. once the clutch faces are engaged, may

be carried therewith, the dish rack being raised and lowered in the tub Ill depending upon thev direction of rotation of the shaft 51 by the reversible motor 5I. The grid or spider 46 will be guided in these -movements by the' upstandng members 45 arranged at each corner of the tub,` which is rectangular in horizontal cross-section.

The partsy are soarranged that when the motor rotates in a direction to turn the agitator in the proper direction for a washing operation, the nut 5| will be moved downwardly on theI shaft 51, and when the motor shaft is rotated in the opposite direction the nutv will move upwardly so as to raise the dish rack from the f ull to the dotted line positions shown in Fig. 4. Push buttons 6B and 61 may be provided on the front of the machine to operate the motor in the Proper direction to raise and lower the rack respectively. When the push button 55 is pressed inwardly, the motor 56 will operate in a clockwise direction, which will cause the nut 6| to ascend-the threaded shaft 51 and carry the dish rack with it. When the nut 6| vreaches the upper ends of the threads 58 (these threads terminating 'below the upper end of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 4) kthe upward movement of the dish rack will be stopped. The operator at this time will release the pressure upon the push button 65, as the dish rack will be raised toits fullest extent, where it may be conveniently loaded with dishes. If pressure upon the'button 55 is not immediately released however, no harm will result, as the nut il will merely vibrate slightly upon the upper end of When it is desired to lower-the dish rack the button 61 will be pressed, thus rotating the motor in a counterclockwise direction. The weight of the dish rack and dishes upon the nut 6| will cause it to be engaged with the threads 58, whereupon the nut. grid and dish rack will be carried downwardly upon the shaft 51 until the grid contacts the shelf or ledge I5. The downwardvmovement of the grid and dish rack will be arrested at this point. The nut 8| may, however, continue to travel downwardly until its lower surface is engaged by the compression spring 5l. When a slight pressure upon the nut is exerted by thisl spring, the downward travel of the nut will be arrested. and it will merely rotate with the shaft 51, which action occurs during the operation of the machine, as the rotor and shaft 51 are continuously" rotated when the washing operation is in progress.

It will be noted 'that in the position just dev scribed, and which is shown in Fig. 4, the nut 51 is in its lowermost position and the clutch teeth onv the upper surface thereof are disengaged from those at the lower end of thesleev'e 4l.' Ii'in this position the button Il is Dressed, the nut would tend to rotate with the shaft, and hence would not be elevated. The operator may, how--l ever.- by a slight downward pressure upon the cap l5 of the tube 5|, spring the arms l1 downwardly slightly at the center of the tub, and as shown by dottedlinea `in Fig. 4..; sc as to engage the clutch teeth or the nu: Il with'cw or the sleeve Il. This will-immediately stop the' rotation of the nut and cause it. together with the grid and be immediately released.

Upon the hinge rod 2l is mounted an angleshaped plate Il'havingI extended ends 1| Aand J2 joined by an arc-shaped surface 13, and a llip 1l is turned outwardly from the flange v3| of the cover 30 to engage one side of extensions 1| and 12, the lip riding along the arc-shaped surface 12 when the coveris swung from closed to open position. The rear edge of the member 1l rests against the downwardly extending lflange of the portion I1, so that the plate will be held against `movement. It will thus be seen that the moveyment of the cover 3l is limited by the engagement of the member 14A with the end portions 1l and 12, so that the cover may be heid in raised or open position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

The lower dish rack 52 is provided with an upwardly spaced ring 15 to receive large pieces vsuch as platters or the like, and upon this ring may lbe seated a`basket l5 for silverware or small pieces, as shown in Figs. l2 and 13. 'I'he basket is held in position by a wire frame 11 secured to the lower rack and bent in proper shape to partially surround the basket, as shown.

A float chamber 8B is provided adjacent one corner of the tub between the latter and the front portion of the casing. and from this float chamber a pipe 5| extends horizontally along the casing to a point adjacent the center thereof, where it is provided with an inwardly extending end 82 (Fig. 4) which projects into the tub, so that the interior of the float chamber is in communication with the water in' thev tub. Within the vthe tub has been lled to the proper level.

At the lower portion of the `tub is a drain tuibe 9|), the mouth of which is controlled by the valve 9| 4mounted on a stem l2, which may be raised and lowered by the lever 95 pivoted at 5,4. AA spring normally urges the lever downwardly to raise the valve 9| to open position. 'Ihe outer end of thelev'er 53 is connected to a link 5l, which' I is in turn connected by a spring l1 to a link sl pivoted at 55 to a control disk lll. The control disk is substantially the` same as shown in my prior application, Serial No. 367,020, med November 25, 1940, above referred to, and is carried by a shaftlll rotatably mounted at the front of the casing and rotated by a control handle |52.

To admit water or other cleaning fluid into the tub, an inlet lll is provided, asV shown in Fig. 4. The ,discharge end of this pipe, as will be seen fromthis gure, is directed toward the blades `ofthe rotor l5, so that the fresh water will be directed toward these blades and will be thrown by them upwardly against the dishes. The pipe ill is vcontrolled by a valve within the casing I, .the valve being provided with a stem III carrying i roller |55 entail!!! the edge of the control disk lll. As described in my previous application. the control disk is of somewhat oval or oblong shape. so that when in the position shown in Fig. 11, or when turned from that position, the valve stem |55 will be in an upward position and the valve closed. When, however,

dish rack. to begin their upward.travel..'rhis 16 the dlskvlllsta'ndaat 90' or210" fromthepoaition shown in Fig. 11, the voivesteni las win be in the properjdirection for the cleansing opera.

tion. It will. thus be seen that the'control disk not only controls the drain valve but also controls the inlet valve andthe operating motor, effecting the operation of the motor in a direction to wash the dishes, but not in the reverse direction. which serves to raise the lower dish rack.

It will also be apparent from Fig. l1 that the disk Il. is provided with recesses. |09 designed to engage the roller |00 so as to provide dennite stop positions for the disk. Therecess which'is engaged with the roller |00, shown in Fig. 11, is somewhat deeper than the remaining recesses,` so as to provide a definite stop for'the position of -the parts when the drain valve is open, the inlet closed, and the motor at rest.. This will, of course, be the position of the parts .when the machine is not in use.

Also mounted adjacent the .control disk |00 are four contact posts |08, which posts are connected by the contact strips |01 when the disk is in the oil'" position, as shown in Fig. 11, which, as will be obvious from-the wiring diagraml of Flg.,25. completes the circuit to the motor from the switches controlledby the buttons 6B and 61. When the disk isl turned to motor-operating position wherein the contacts |00 are connected by strips |01, the contact posts |03* are no longer electrically connected, and the current through the raising switch operated'hy button 01 is broken.

As also shown in Plg.1l, the link "is con- 4niectecltothedisk |00 atapoint closertooneofl 4o at the lower end of the sleeve 49e secured to the the recesses |00`than an adjacent one. As shown in l'ull lines in this gure, which is the drain position, the link will occupy its lowermost position and the drain valve will be completely open. y".l'he dotted line position of the link 90 shown in this ngure corresponds to the rinse position, in which water will be admitted to the tub but will also be draining therefrom, the dishes being rinsed mainly with clear water: In this position the drain valve will not be open to its full extent, as the link 08 will be in a somewhat higher position than that shown in full lines. It will be under-4 stood that the spring 01 will provide for movement of the control disk and the link 90 after the valve 0I may have been closed, so that even though the valve 0I is closed before the link 00 reaches its uppermost position, the control disk will still be permitted to rotate.

InFigs. 14 and 15 of the drawings I have shown a somewhat modified form of my invention in which the rotor 50 is surrounded by a ring IIIV supported from the bottom of the tub upon spaced standards lil, and at H2 is shown the inletpipe leading into the ring I0 so that the freshwater admitted to the tubwill be carried directly into the path of the rotor blades. In this instance the drain pipe is shown at IIS.

It will be observed thatin the' form of my invention shown' in Figs. 1 to 13, it is necessary to rack 31 is of the same construction as previously illustrated. Adjacent the sides of the tank are provided elevating rods |15, having inwardly ol!- set portions I IB'and upper ends H1 joined by a horizontal member I II which engages the lower surface of the outer portion of the dish rack 31. A tension spring il! is secured to the flange 2| and secured at its lower endv to the portion H0 4of the elevating rod. The lower end of the elevating rod is turned inwardly, as shown at |20,

and lies below the grid I0. With this construction it will be apparent that when the grid 4I is moved upwardly the spring lil effects the upward movement of the elevating members and 15 causes the horizontal portion l Il to move the upper rack 01 upwardly from its extended position, as shown at the left of Fig. 16, to its folded position, as'shown at the right of Fig. 16. When the grid 40 is moved downwardly to lower the dish rack the elevating members will likewise be.

lowered, thus leavingthe portions of the upper dish rack free to be moved to their extended positions. 1

In Fig. 1'1 tno outer portions of the dish rack l1 are provided with extended ends lzl, which are weighted as shown at |22. In thisform of the invention, when the dishes are removed from the dish rack I1 the latter will be caused to assume the folded position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1'1 by reason of the weight Maand win stand in ,this position until they have been move( downwardly by the operator and enough dishes placed thereon so that the weight of the dishes in the rack will not be overbalanced by theweight El'id. In this case the clutch teeth on the sleeve and nut have been omitted, and dependence is placed uponthe friction' of the long tapered silrfaces of the two parts to prevent rotation of the I nut and cause its travel along the shaft 58e.

Also in this ilgure of the drawings the inlet pipe |25 is divided, a part thereof having openings IZI adjacent the rotor and another branch |21 extending to the upper portion of the maw chine and having openings |28 adjacentthe top thereof to discharge the cleansing fluid upon the dishes inthe racks. Also, as shown in Fig. 16, the outlet pipe |30 is provided with a branch III extending upwardly so that when the water has been drained from the machine, fresh air 'will be y drawn therein through'th'e pipe Ill and drain pipe |30. It will-be understood that the upper end of pipe III is open to the atmosphere iorI this rPurpose.

As shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 18, the lower dish rack is provided with a guard rail |35 of rectangular form, the guard rail being spaced upwardly from the base of the dish rack by means of upstanding legs |36. This guard l435 confines the edges of the dishes stacked between the members 53 so that when the dish rack is raised the-edges of these dishes will not strike against the ilanges 2|, butwill risethrough the openings between these flanges.

As shown in Fig: 19, the outer one of the upstanding members Il on this rack may be made V-shaped in top plan view, the angle of the V opening toward the central axis of the tub so that dishes stacked against this rack will be disposed in a position to conform to the spray of water or 9 cleaning fluid delivered by the propeller or rotor 63 In Figs. and 21 of the drawings I have shown my dish-washing apparatus mounted in a drain board or counter in a manner similar to the ordinary sink, and if desired the device may takel the place of the sink. To this end the tub or container |40 is secured to angle plates |4| which are opening in the member |41 is defined by the downwardly depending flange |46, within which flange fits a hinged cover |43 to close the device.

If it is desired to use the tub of the washer as a sink, a strainer `,|50 may be inserted in the upper opening of the tub, the strainer beingA provided with outwardly directed flanges |5| which rest upon and support the strainer from the flanges |44. This strainer will, of course, be readily removable and replaceable so that it may be re moved when it ls desired to use the latter as a sink. f A swinging faucet |5| may be arranged to swing out over the mouth ofthe tub |40 so that, particularly when it is used as a sink, hot or cold vwater may be delivered directly thereto.

The upper racks |52 are of substantially the same form as theracks 31 previously described. In-

stead, however, of supporting these racks upon flanges, as shown in Figs. 3 and 16, short projecting pins |53 are secured 'in the sides of the vtub |40, and extend inwardly to a sumcient extent to catch the side members of the racks and support the latter in the proper position.

- In Figs. 22 to 24 of the drawings I have shown the switches used for raising and lowering the lower dish rack, andthe wiring connections between these switches and the motor, and in addition between the control disk |00 and the motor.

As shown in Figs. 22 to 24, the switch comprises a supporting plateI |60 of insulating material, this 10 pressed the current will be broken to the switch of the other of these buttons. Therefore, if the operator presses the button 66, for example, to lower the dish rack, he cannot, while this button is depressed, close the circuit of the other switch by pressing the button 61, so that there will be no danger of causing a short circuit in this manner, or otherwise injuring the device.

The wiring diagram shown in Fig. 25 is believed to be clear without detailed description. 'I'he lowering switch controlled by the push button 66 is indicated at A and the raising switch controlled by button 61 is indicated at B, while the contacts mounted upon and controlled by the control disk are shown at the upper part of the figure, the control disk |00 being shown in dotted lines, the

parts being given numbers corresponding to those used in Figs. 22 to 24, it being understood that the two switches A and B are of identical form.

It will be understood that it is desirable to arrange the dishes within the tub so as to obtain .the best result of the spray delivered by the rotor or propeller. For example, the dishes in the lower rack should be arranged so that the upwardly directed spray is not interfered with to such an extent that it does not reach the articles in the upper.

rack. The transparent cover enables the operator to observe the action of the device when in operation, so as to see .whether or not the dishes are stacked in the racks to the best advantage, and to change them if they are not so stacked. With a little practice one using the device is thus-enabled to so stack the dishes that'the best results are secured, and thus the transparent cover is a very important feature.

.As shown in Figs. 3 and 18, the 'upstanding-legs |36 may be continued above the guard rail |35, and slightly turned inwardly at their upper ends, as shown at |36. Thus formed, the extended ends of these members form guides in the raising and loweringof the lower dishrack in that the inwardly turned ends |36 may contact the porplate having binding posts |6| and |62 to which are electricallyconnected spring contacts |63 and |64. Below these contacts and adapted to be engaged by the contacts when the latter are depressed are binding posts |65 and |66 adjacent the intermediate part of the plate, and binding posts |61 and |68 adjacent the upper part of the plate. It will be apparent that when the button 66 is depressed the spring contact |63 will engage the posts |65 and |61, and likewise the Contact |64 will engage the posts |66 and |681 thereby connectinc these posts in pairs respectively to the posts |6| and |62.

The button 66 is mounted upongan insulating strip |10 which extends across and is connected to the contact members |63 and |64, so that both of these are depressed evenly by pressure upon the button. The member |10 extends outwardly at one end and is provided on the extended end with a contact member |1| designed to engageI a cooperating contact member |12 mounted` upon the plate and electrically connected to a binding post |13. The wiring of the device is so arranged that the current passing to one of thetwo switch members employed to raise and lower the dish rack must pass through the contacts |1| and |12, so

tion of the member I9 between the flanges 20 and 2|, that is, the part of this member which defines the upper opening. In this Way the lower rack, by the contacting of the upper ends of the` members |36 with the member I9, will serve to properly guide the dish rack through the opening in the member I9 when it is raised to its upper position. K

While I have shown and described some preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims,

What I claim is:

1. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub, a dish-supporting rack movably mounted in the tub, means for elevating said rack from a lower to a, higher position in the tub, said means comprising a rotatable threaded shaft projecting upwardly into the tub, a nut threadedly engaged with said shaft and disposed below said rack to raise and lower the same upon rotation of said shaft, and means on said rack adapted to be non-'rotatably engaged with lthe nut to prevent rot ation of the latter with the shaft.

2. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub, a dish-supporting rack movably mounted in the tub. means for elevatingsaid rack from a lower to a higher position in the tub, said means comprising a. rotatable threaded shaft projecting upwardly into the tub, a nut in constant threaded that when one of the push buttons Il or 61 is de- 15 engagement with saidA shaft and .disposed below '11 said rack to raise and lower the same upon ,rotation' of said shaft, means on said rack adapted to be non-rotatably engaged with said nut to sacos prevent rotation of the latter with the shaft, and 1 means to arrest movement of the rack at Dredetermined limits of .the movement thereof.

3. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub, a dish-supporting rack movably mounted in the tub, means for elevating said rack from a lower to a higher pOSition in the tub, said means comprising a rotatable threaded shaft projecting upwardly into the tub, a nut.disposedbelow the rackand threadediy engaged with said shaft to be raised and lowered when` the latter is rotated in reverse directions, and a member carried by the rack and engageable with said nut to effect movement of the rack.

4. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub, a dish-supporting rack movably mounted in the tub, means for elevating said rack from a, lower .to a higher positionin the tub, said means comprisins a rotatable thraded shaft projecting upwardly into the tub,A a reversiblemotor for rotating said shaft, a nut disposed below the rack and l threadedly engaged with said shaft, a rack-supl porting grid within the tub below the rack, and a sleeve member secured to said grid and having means to non-rotatably engage said nut.

5. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub, a dish-supporting rack movably mounted in the tub,

- means for elevating said rack from a lower to a higher position in .the tub, said means comprising a rotatable threaded member projecting upwardly into the tub, a reversible motor for rotating said member, a nut threadedly engaged with said member, a rack-supporting grid within the tub below the rackl and a sleeve member secured to s aid grid and engageable by the nut, said nut andv sleeve member having cooperating clutch faces thereon to prevent relative rotationof said members when said elements are in engagement.

. 12 and means to effect thefolding of said portions when the rst-named rack is elevated.

9. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub, a dish rack 'supported in the tub, said rack comprising a section having an upstanding dish-supporting member thereon pivoted to the tub at its outer edge to swing from a -substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, asecond section, also having an upstanding dish-supporting member thereon hinged to the inner edge of the first section whereby it may be folded against said first. section with said members projecting outwardly from Ithe respective sections in opposite directions,.and means for supporting said sections in a substantially horizontalposition in extended relation.

10. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub,

a dish rack supported in the tub, said rack being hinged to the Ituby adjacent one edge thereof to swing from a substantially horizontal position .to a substantially vertical position, and said rack being articulated adjacent its central portion whereby the articulated parts thereof may fold together, each of said parts having an upstanding dish-supporting member thereon, and means for supporting said rack in a substantially horizontal position with said upstanding members in a substantially vertical position. f

6. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub, a

dish-supporting rack movably mounted in the tub, means for elevating said rack from a lower .to a higher position in the tub. said means com-l prising a rotatable threadedY member projecting upwardly into .the tub, a reversible motor for rotating said member, a nut threadedly engaged.

with said member, a rack-supporting grid within the .tub below the rack, and a sleeve'member secured to said grid and engageable by .the nut, said grid being exible whereby it may be flexed ggwnwardly to engage said nut and sleeve memj 7. A dishwashing'machine comprising a tub, a dish rack supported in .the tub, said rack com- Dl'lSinB a pair of foldable portions one of which is pivotally connected-to the tub, a plurality of upstanding members on one oi said portions between which articles may be supported, and a similar member of vlesser height on the other of said portions.

dish-supporting lrack movably mounted in the tub, means for elevating and loweringsaid rack within the tub, a reversible motor for operating said means. a second dish-supporting rack above v8. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub. a l

11. A dishwashing machiner comprising a tu a pair of dish racks suitably supported in the tub, each of said racks having lupstanding dish-supporting members thereon and extending from a point adjacentthe center of the tub to points adjacent the side walls thereof, and each of said racks being hinged to the tub adjacent one edgethereof to swing from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position and being articulated adjacent its central portion whereby the articulated parts may fold together with 4the upstanding members extending outwardly from the respective rack parts in opposite directions. I

12. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub, a dish rack supported in the tub comprising a pair of foldable sections, an upstanding dish-supporting member on` the upper face of each of said sections, one of said sections being pivoted to the tub adjacent its outer edge, and the other section being pivoted to an opposite edge of the rst section, said last-named pivotal connection being adapted to permit said connections to fold together back to back with the upstanding member on one section projecting in a. direction opposite to that of the member on the other section.

13. A dishwashing machine comprising a tub, a dish rack supported in the tub comprising a pair of foldablesections pivoted together at their 'adjacent edges to permit said sections to fold to- Sether with their lower faces in juxtaposition, one

of saidsections being pivoted to the .tub adjacent its outer edge whereby both sections may be foldedv to an upright position adjacent the tub wall, 4an upstanding dish-supporting member on the upper face of each of said sections, and means for supporting said sections in the Itub in sub-` stantially horizontal position. Y

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LAWRENCE A. IDEE. 

